People often talk about the countless scholarships available to college-bound students, but this abundance is actually part of the problem. Visit sites like scholarships.com or appliy.com, and you’ll find thousands of listings. Unfortunately, most target niche areas, specific schools, or worse—they’re simply data collection schemes.
When you’re accepted to a university, they provide an aid package, so you generally don’t need to research that institution’s specific scholarships. If you excel in a particular field, it’s worth investigating specialized offerings in that area. However, let’s focus on significant scholarships that most Americans should know about, along with a few interesting options.
The Big Ones
These scholarships offer substantial awards to many students each year with minimal restrictions.
Cameron Impact Scholarship
- Deadline: September 5, 2025 (Early deadline: May 21, 2025)
- Award: Full tuition and fees for four years (excluding room and board)
- Recipients: 15 high school seniors annually
- Eligibility: U.S. citizens with strong academic records, demonstrated leadership, and commitment to community service
- More Info: bryancameroneducationfoundation.org
The Gates Scholarship
- Deadline: September 15, 2025
- Award: Full cost of attendance not covered by other financial aid (last-dollar scholarship)
- Recipients: 300 high school seniors annually
- Eligibility: Outstanding minority students from low-income households
- More Info: thegatesscholarship.org
Horatio Alger Scholarship
- Deadline: March 1, 2026
- Award: Up to $25,000
- Recipients: Multiple awards nationwide
- Eligibility: Students who have faced and overcome significant obstacles, demonstrating financial need and commitment to pursuing higher education
- More Info: horatioalger.org
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation College Scholarship
- Deadline: November 2025 (exact date TBA)
- Award: Up to $55,000 per year
- Recipients: Approximately 60 new College Scholars annually
- Eligibility: High-achieving high school seniors with financial need
- More Info: jkcf.org
Coolidge Scholarship
- Deadline: December 2025 (exact date TBA)
- Award: Full-ride scholarship covering tuition, room, board, and expenses for four years (approximately $120,000)
- Recipients: 2–3 high school juniors annually
- Eligibility: Academic excellence, interest in public policy, and appreciation for Calvin Coolidge’s values
- More Info: coolidgescholars.org
Coca-Cola Scholars Program
- Deadline: October 31, 2025
- Award: $20,000
- Recipients: 150 high school seniors annually
- Eligibility: Students demonstrating leadership, service, and academic excellence
- More Info: coca-colascholarsfoundation.org
Elks Most Valuable Student Scholarship
- Deadline: November 14, 2025
- Award: $4,000 to $30,000
- Recipients: 500 high school seniors annually
- Eligibility: U.S. citizens demonstrating leadership and financial need
- More Info: elks.org
Stamps Scholars Program
- Deadline: Varies by partner institution (37 schools)
- Award: Up to full cost of attendance plus enrichment funds (ranges from $6,000 to $90,000 annually)
- Recipients: Varies by institution
- Eligibility: Exceptional students demonstrating leadership, perseverance, scholarship, service, and innovation
- More Info: stampsscholars.org
Davidson Fellows Scholarship
- Deadline: February 2026
- Award: $25,000, $50,000, or $100,000
- Recipients: Varies annually
- Eligibility: Students 18 or younger who have completed significant work in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, literature, music, or philosophy
- More Info: davidsongifted.org
Journalism Scholarships
National Press Club Scholarships
- Deadline: Varies by scholarship (e.g., February 18 for Wes Vernon Broadcast Scholarship)
- Award: $5,000 to $10,000
- Recipients: Varies by scholarship
- Eligibility: Students pursuing journalism, with some scholarships focusing on diversity and specific journalism fields
- More Info: pressclubinstitute.org
RTDNA Foundation Scholarships
- Deadline: January 15, 2026
- Award: Varies; over $35,000 awarded in total annually
- Recipients: 14 students and early-career journalists in 2025
- Eligibility: Aspiring or early-career journalists pursuing careers in radio, television, or digital news
- More Info: rtdna.org/scholarships-and-fellowships
Society of Professional Journalists High School Essay Contest
- Deadline: February 2026
- Award: First Place: $1,000; Second Place: $500
- Recipients: Top 2 national winners
- Eligibility: High school students interested in journalism
- More Info: spj.org/high-school-essay-contest
Other Scholarships
Voyager Scholarship
- Deadline: March 2025 (exact date TBA)
- Award: Up to $80,000 total; includes $25,000 per year for junior and senior years, $10,000 for a summer experience, and $2,000 in Airbnb travel credits annually for 10 years
- Recipients: 100 students annually
- Eligibility: U.S. citizens, permanent residents, or DACA recipients entering their junior year with a 3.0+ GPA and demonstrated financial need
- More Info: obama.org/voyager-scholarship
GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship
- Deadline: January 2026
- Award: $10,000 per year, renewable for up to three additional years (totaling up to $40,000)
- Recipients: Multiple high school seniors nationwide
- Eligibility: Students demonstrating leadership, drive, integrity, and citizenship
- More Info: reaganfoundation.org/education/scholarship-programs
Washington Crossing Foundation Scholarship
- Deadline: January 2026
- Award: Up to $5,000
- Recipients: Varies annually
- Eligibility: High school seniors planning careers in government service
- More Info: gwcf.org/scholarship
United States Senate Youth Program
- Deadline: Varies by state; typically in the fall
- Award: $10,000 college scholarship and an all-expenses-paid trip to Washington, D.C. for Washington Week
- Recipients: Two high school juniors or seniors per state annually
- Eligibility: Student government leaders demonstrating academic excellence and leadership
- More Info: ussenateyouth.org
Dell Scholars Program
- Deadline: December 2025
- Award: $20,000 scholarship, laptop, and personalized support
- Recipients: 500 high school seniors annually
- Eligibility: Students with a minimum 2.4 GPA, financial need, and participation in a college readiness program
- More Info: dellscholars.org
Greenhouse Scholars Program
- Deadline: November 2025
- Award: Up to $5,000 per year, renewable for four years
- Recipients: 28 students annually
- Eligibility: High-performing, low-income students with leadership potential
- More Info: greenhousescholars.org
American Legion National High School Oratorical Contest
- Deadline: Varies by state; typically in the fall
- Award: First Place: $25,000; Second Place: $22,500; Third Place: $20,000; State winners receive $2,000, with an additional $2,000 for advancing past the first round
- Recipients: Multiple students at various competition levels
- Eligibility: High school students demonstrating knowledge of the U.S. Constitution through prepared speeches
- More Info: legion.org/oratorical
